ARTIST STATEMENT: 

Does perishability make you uncomfortable? 

My work explores the concept of perishability as related to our human experiences, the artifacts we encounter, and our physical bodies. Every portrait is perishable - the only difference being the time-horizon used to measure its existence. By compressing that time horizon down to a handful of days, we can explore a new relationship between the audience and the portrait. 

This exhibition titled “All art is Perishable, nothing lasts forever” explores and embraces decay and the active perishing of art. Watch edible portraits decay in real-time as we embrace the unpredictable and inevitable nature of perishability. Expect things to get gross and morbid. 

All portraits on display are made with 100% edible ingredients and no artificial colours. Some half-eaten portraits from my recent artist’s residency will also be on display alongside their video interviews. 

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:

Since being sarcastically challenged by a friend while making chocolate covered strawberries, KC Bae (they, them) continues to explore and innovate edible portraiture techniques. 

Using an iterative and mathematical approach, KC takes meticulous measurements and develops recipes and techniques. Cookies with royal icing, or cakes with fondant are used as “canvases’’. The “paints” are made from scratch using all natural and edible ingredients such as coffee, raspberries, and butterfly pea flowers. Making portraits of raspberry lips, chocolate hair, and floral eyes - KC aims to make portraits of subjects who are then directed to eat their own faces. 

In their recent artist’s residency, KC exhibited “_____ is Perishable”, where subjects titled FACE-EATERS were painted into edible portraits and peer pressured to eat their own faces. The subjects were encouraged to destroy a piece of art while simultaneously also consuming a likeness of themselves - to highlight and “internalize” their own perishability. These experiences were filmed in an interview format where each FACE-EATER identified what is perishable to them (e.g. love, insecurity, identity, life - to name a few), and share their profound lived experiences. The results were quirky, sweet, highly emotional, and a ceremonial experience. 

KC has no formal artistic training or talent, but they can whip you up a tasty cookie that looks like your own face. This cookie may also make you cry. 

Instagram: @painting.bae